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Key Measures Show Inflation Increased in January

The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI and the trimmed-mean CPI this morning:

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, the median Consumer Price Index rose 0.3% (4.2% annualized rate) in January. The 16% trimmed-mean Consumer Price Index also rose 0.3% (3.5% annualized rate) during the month. The median CPI and 16% trimmed-mean CPI are measures of core inflation calculated by the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland based on data released in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly CPI report.

Note: The Cleveland Fed released the median CPI details for January here. Motor fuel was up sharply in January.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the year-over-year change for these four key measures of inflation. On a year-over-year basis, the median CPI rose 2.4%, the trimmed-mean CPI rose 1.9%, and the CPI less food and energy rose 1.8%. Core PCE is for December and increased 1.5% year-over-year.

On a monthly basis, median CPI was at 4.2% annualized, trimmed-mean CPI was at 3.5% annualized, and core CPI was at 4.3% annualized.

Using these measures, inflation picked up a little year-over-year in January. Overall, these measures are close, but still mostly below, the Fed’s 2% target (Median CPI is slightly above).